Combined level and plumb



Oct. 18, 1932. A. F. CORRINGTON COMBINED LEVEL AND PLUMB Original Filed Aug. 21, 1928 n I 0 M I .4 w.u. 7 am dm H w F m Y B I ATTORNEY;

Patented Oct. 18, I932 UNIE,

FATE

COMBINED LEVEL AND PLUMB Application filed August 21, 1928, Serial No. 301,028. Renewed February 1, 1932.

My invention relates to a combined level and plumb, and more especially to that particular type made up of several sections detachably secured together for use as a long level and plumb and detachable whereby several sections may be used independently as small levels and plumbs in truing restricted areas or short surfaces and alsoreadily superposed' or packed-together for carrying and storing the same in a kit. I A

It is an object of my invention to so construct a combined level and plumb of this general type in which the sections maybe quickly detached by a simple manipulation thereof yet when connected together. Wlll fit snugly to form a tight and rigid assembly, and in which the construction of the locking means is very simple enabling the device to be manufactured at small cost.

It is a further object of my invention. to provide a joint for a sectional level and lumb of such construction that it will not only hold the sections rigidly together, but will also maintain them in perfect alignment so that the device for all vpurposes will be as eifective as when of integral construction yet capable of being separated into short sections with the least possible effort to thereby increase its usefulness and convenience.

Other objects of my invention will be readilyapparentfrom the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a level and plumb constructed in accordance with my invention, the joint being shown in outline.

Figs. 2 and 3 are views of the component parts of my improved joint.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section of that part of the joint shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

" vLike numerals of reference indicate like parts in theseveral views of the drawing.

The device is made up of three parts or sections detachably connected together by means of the particular form of locking-joint hereinafter described, the end sections 1 and 2 being each provided in the body thereof with a transverse opening 3 having spirit tubes 4 and 5 at opposite sides of said openings and the intermediate section 6 provided with a similar opening having spirit tubes 7 and 8 at the upper and lower sides thereof, whereby when the parts are connected together .the device may serve as a level and plumb and when separated the central section provides a convenient level, while the end sections are useful as plumbs in restricted areas not requiring use of a longer straight edge. An-

other purpose of having the device in detachable sections provides that they may be superposed one upon another for convenience in carrying the device or storing it in a kit as hereinbefore stated.

In carrying out my invention the upper part of thecentral section 6 is cut away at its ends for a short distance and the lower portions of the inner ends of the end sections are cut away correspondingly whereby lap-j oints are provided as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, and to hold the several sections together against lateral movement upon each other a lug or short dowel 9 is formed at the cut away end of each section of the joint to litin a corresponding socket 10 in the shoulder of the contiguous section, the lug or dowel and companion socket in which it fits being preferably tapered to insure a tight fit properly aligning the straight edges of the device in coplanar relation. New in order to firmly secure the sections together when joined in this manner and thereby prevent longitudinal movement, as well as prevent lateral displacement, 1 have devised a simple and efiective lock for the purpose consisting of a springactuated bolt 11 carried by one of the parts to be joined and engaging a lug 12 on the companion part of the device, the arrangement including a triggerl?) by which the bolt is released automatically and when released will cause the dowel 9 to be forced into the socket 10 for intimately connecting said parts or sections of the device together. The lock is duplicated with respect to each joint and the bolt is preferably carried by the projecting member or members of the center section to cooperate with the lug on the overlapping?, member of the end section or sections, and to receive this bolt and spring 14 actuating the same, the member of the center section is provided in its upper face with a longitudinal recess 15 in which the bolt slides and the spring is contained, said bolt and spring being held in place by means of a plate 16, while the bottom of the recess is provided with a narrow channel 17 to receive the trigger 13 hereinbefore referred to. The trigger is secured in the outer end of the channel by screws 18 and the inner or free end thereof works in the inner end of said channel which is made deeper for the purpose, and it will be noted by reference to Fig. 4L- of the drawing that said inner end of the trigger is turned upward and outward to form a hook 19 with a lip 19a against which the lug will strike to trip said trigger when the end section carrying the lug is connected to the center section carrying the trigger, the spring-actuated bolt then engaging the lug to move the sections longitudinally upon each other for interlocking engagement of the dowels and sockets.

The operation of joining an end section to the center section will be obvious from the foregoing description in connection with the accompanying drawing for it is only necessary to grasp the center section in one hand and the end section in the other hand and then by bringing the projecting members together so that the lug 12 on one will enter the recess in the other and trip the trigger the spring-actuated bolt will operate to move the sections longitudinally one upon the other to force the dowels into the sockets, thus securely locking said end and center sections together under spring pressure sufficient to hold them in the form of a single unit for use as a plumb and level. It will be understood that the other end section is in like manner connected to the other end of the center section to provide a longer level and by employing this particular form of joint the combined level and plumb comprising the three detachable sections can be handled as though made in one solid piece. In separating an end section from the center section it is necessary only to exert a pull on the sections to overcome the pressure of the spring so that the lug will retract the bolt and as the end section is broken away from the center section the trigger will engage the companion bolt to maintain it retracted or in position for connecting the parts together ag in as hereinbefore described. t will be oovious therefore that the operation of joining the sections, as well as detaching the same, is performed by simply bringing the projecting members of the lap-joint togeth r and sliding them one upon the other and the bolts will automatically operate to lock them together without the manual operation of any part of the locking mechanism, and that a firm and secure joint is provided to maintain the several sections in perfect alignment when connected together. Of course minor changes or modifications in the form of the lock may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A combined level and plumb made up of several elongated sections fitted together by a slidable lap joint having overlapping members, a dowel at the outer end of the member of one section engaging in a socket in the shoulder at the inner end of the member of the companion section, a spring-actuated bolt on the inner side of one of the members and a projection on the other member engaged by the bolt for securing the sections together by spring pressure.

2. A combined level and plumb made up of several elongated sections fitted together by a slidable lap joint having overlapping members, a dowel at the outer end of the member of one section engaging in a socket in the shoulder at the inner end of the member of the companion section, a spring-actuated bolt slidable in a longitudinal recess in one member of the joint and a lug projecting from the contiguous face of the companion member to fit into the aforesaid recess so as to be engaged by the bolt to secure the sections together by spring pressure.

3. A combined level and plumb made up of several elongated sections fitted together by a slidable lap joint having overlapping members, a dowel at the outer end of the member of one section engaging in a socket in the shoulder at the inner end of the member of the other section, a spring-actuated bolt slidable in a longitudinal recess in the inner face of one member, a trigger engaging the bolt to hold it normally retracted, and a lug projecting from the inner face of the com panion member to fit into the aforesaid recess and release the trigger and be engaged by the bolt to secure the sections together by spring pressure.

4. A combined level and plumb made up of several elongated sections fitted together by a slidable lap joint having overlapping members, a dowel at the outer end of the member of one section engaging in a socket in the shoulder at the inner end of the member of the other section, a spring actuated bolt slidable in a longitudinal recess in one member, a flat spring forming a trigger engaging the outer end of the bolt and having an out wardly projecting lip, and a lug projecting from the companion member into the aforesaid recess to engage the lip at the end of the trigger for releasing the bolt, said lug being engaged by the spring-actuated bolt for moving the sections longitudinally one upon the other and for holding the sections together by spring pressure.

5. A combined level and plumb made up of several elongated sections fitted together by a slidable lap joint having overlapping members, a tapered dowel at the outer end of the member of one section engaging in a correspondingly tapered socket in the slsioulder at the inner end of the member of the other section, a spring-actuated bolt slidable in a longitudinal recess in one member, a flat spring Working in a channel in the bottom of the recess and forming a trigger having a projecting lip at its outer end adapted to engage the spring-actuated bolt at the outer end thereof, and a lug projecting from r the member of the companion section into the aforesaid recess to engage the outer end of the trigger for releasing the bolt, said lug being engaged by the spring-actuated bolt for moving the sections longitudinally one upon the other and for holding the sections together by spring pressure.

ANDREW F. CORRINGTON. 

